The Vapormen shop owner angry as council contractors dig 'three foot' ditch right outside front door

Chris Hamnett in front of the three foot ditch outside his shop door

A shop owner from Middleton has said he may as well shut his doors after council workers dug up a 'three foot' ditch right outside the front door.

Chris Hamnett, who owns The Vapormen on Long Street, said he was sat in his shop window on Friday (29 January) as heavy machinery operated outside his door, digging up a ditch which he says made it impossible for customers to reach his shop unless they “can jump”.

Rochdale Borough Council said that their contractors are carrying out work on the site, and that when access to the shops is blocked, customers are “guided” there by the workers.

However, Mr. Hamnett said he may as well be closed as the ditch put customers off completely. He said: “I got a leaflet through the door to say my opening hours won’t be affected by the work. That’s very nice but there is no point being open if my customers have to jump over a big ditch to get in.

“We knew something was in the pipeline but I wasn’t expecting to be sat here looking out at diggers and a hole in the ground right in front of my shop. I just think it would be nice to have more notice for these things, I haven’t been in business very long and I can’t afford for people to be put off”.

Steve Reay, highways services manager at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The works on Long Street are being carried out by our contractor Balfour Beatty, who provide a presence on site at all times to liaise with shopkeepers and guide customers into adjacent shops.

“The contractor spoke with the shop owner yesterday and explained the procedure for excavating the footway outside of his shop today without issue. Access to the shop was disrupted for 40 minutes, during which time any customer wishing to enter his shop would have been guided through the works by our contractor.”